Tangential and rotational motion indicating device



June 2, 1953 F. B. WELLS 2,640,278

TANGENTIAL AND ROTATIONAL MOTION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

TANGENTIAL AND ROTATIONAL MOTION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1949 F. B. WELLS June 2, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flan/(Zia fl 3 2115 June 2, 1953 WELLS 2,640,278

TANGENTIAL AND ROTATIONAL MOTION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IMHILHW IN V EN TOR.

4 Frau/m fl W15 GM A June 2, 1953 WELLS 2,640,278

TANGENTIAL AND ROTATIONAL MOTION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 2, 1953 U NIT E D es eem OEFFLCSE TIANGENEIAL AND ROTAT IONAL' MOTION JNDIQAT IN G DEVECE *FranklinB. -Wells, Montelair, 'N. 'J., assignor of one=half to -I ]llis -'1 ster"Company, Montclair, N.'J., a cm'poreition 0f New Jersey 'Applieation'November 16, 1949,:Serial.No.,127;698

jl'jhis.inventionirelatesto. apparatus whichilius- -tratesgraphically the path followed byfa ffrejely lmoving mass -when,it,.\is influenee'dfby ,Cireular or .rotationalfmotioniunder varying .cenditiens. llhe device .eonsists of a suitable framework .upen

which are mounted two major and ,eneminor -iunetional vassenfiblies, and ,a motive ,power as- ;semhly to 'irnpartjrotationai nietion to either one erflboth ofgthe majorfunctional assemblies.

Broadly considered, the .first. major iunetionai assembly comprises alhorizontal rotatable [disc .having on its upper surface ,pressure sensitive means for indicating thereon the pathoiimasses .inthe iormmtmetal bailsduring motion. ofv eith r the' .giisc..or 'theiballsor duringfiifferential motion .01 both. The seeonclrmajpr functional assembly rotatable .upon .thesameaxis aspthenrst and c.cmprises...means for'..holding .ancl imparting .mo-

mien .to the-,balls .andreleasing them npon lthe ahovermentioneddisc. .fijheminoriunetional as- .sernbly also means for releasing .balls ,at any -point oftthe ,clisc butin rolling motion and.,ciuring rotation of the .disc. -In the tcirawings:

- i=-T:ig. 1 ,is a general view in front elevation .s-hewing one .form of the (invention.

52 'is a side elevation of the same ,forznpf the invention as .Fig. .-1. V v

' .,3 is.a..section.ta1 :en.on.line,l-=3.of..Fig...2.

. 4 isa section takenonline xii-140i ,Fig- 2. v 5 a-seetion taken .on dine .-5-'5 f Big. ,3. 6 .is .a {side elevation .ofenother form .or"

invention.

Figs. '7 and 3 .are diagrams vshowing tracings girth-e pathtof balls-when released under-varying "eenditions .ef differential motion, '7 .being a simple tan ential path and Fiat b in .ai rm :oi fiiirehimedes rspiral.

;I11ithdrawings ,the. entire frame .is designated ;by: ti1 e numbers ii, .2- and 3 which represent, ireneetively, an \uhright support I .forlwarclly Ldited sat its .upper end, and. the {base .eompris- ElnhOESiZOIltELl arm =2 projeeting for-Ward iirom :the lewer venci :of theqsupport and acress-arm.3

'welrled :to :thezherimntal arm Jancl. extending, say,

1 'from bothvsidesrthereoi. fllwovleyelsd aretat right angles to reach other and reach :iS placed *nearthe end ofitheib'aseimemb'er to which it (is attached so that they may the :read easily. in

thumb-screw levelling cieviee 5 with Wing- 111113 locks is situatedat the end of 'eah base mnem- .circles the vertical shaft 'below the plate. serves .as aretainer for the outer races of the bearings 18 which allow {the plate assembly to .trota'tefreely upon the'shaft anclhas fastened on its lower 'face the pulley black 19 for driving her. A rodjor post 6 (suitably o'f "'soft steel) .is screwed into one outer'end'of,the'base 'crossarm for thesupport ofythe motive power assembly (not shown).

"A similar rod or post is attached to the other end: of the'base cross-arm for su port of.theminor"funetienal assembly --8 (described later). Loek nuts (not shown) "are used to secure thES $I'OdS"tO 'thebase cross-arm and prevent turning thereofkluring operation.

The first of "th'emaj'or iunetional "assemblies (hereinafter known as the plate"assembly) "comprises av horizontal circular plate f9 freely rotatable an ashaftfli whichextendsfroma central part of the base above 'clescr'ibe'dto "the upper endof .the upright :support I. In the drawings ,itconsists of ,alithose.lpartsihetween and including the hearing,retaini gjbushing"l1 and'the beveliedv ring gear 2. The plate assembly "may he locked in ,a stationary position'whenever desired .bymeans of the plate assembly 'l-o-ck'iil. 'When the two .wing jnutsl l are loosened, the lock i3 .may bemovedpupwards untirthetaperedpreng i5 engages one., o'f"thje taperedholes or "slots is in the,p lat,e'9. Qn tightening the {two wing nuts M, theppiate assembly islecked'rigidly'in' plaee.

The studs upnn which the *wing nuts are *placed pass through a vertical slot in support and guide the .loek I3 in "a straight line 'when it is moved up or Idown. "The 'bearing retaining bushi s ill .islockedhymeansof aset screw -'to shaft iii and this prevents the plate assembly irem slidinguownwartl on t'he'sha'ft. "Asoft steel tube 0r.,sleeve Ill of at least /z"-'wall "thickness enthe assembly, and on its upper face the plate 9 and bevelled ringjgear i2. "Int'otheside of'sleeve i1 is screwed 51001210, which serves to lock the plate assembly to shaft 'M. "In Fig. -2 this look ,is shown in the disengaged position. I-he hent end of handle 21 'as shown is turned away from "the observer and "resting in "a notch oi the lug vM. turnedat least and then released, theeompression spring 23 forces the taperecl plug 1243b the end =of' the-- hand1e iinward auntil fit engages When the handle is pulled out slightlyand the tap'ered' holetiii inr'shaft all]. insithus locked the plate assembly moves as a unit with the other parts of the apparatus which are fastened to the shaft.

The plate 9 is suitably a flat steel disc about in thickness and 12" in diameter. On the upper surface of the plate is placed the graphic tracing device 25 which may be any pressure sensitive graphic recording means responsive to pressure directed on its surface by a moving point of pressure (as represented by a rolling ball). A ball rolling on the surface of the tracing device records its path visually. For example, the recording device may be carbon paper on top of a blank sheet of paper, preferably with a circular tough, transparent, flexible sheet over the carbon paper for protection thereof. Another form of graphic tracing device also preferably consists of three parts. The lower element is a circular sheet resting on the plate and having a dark and tacky upper surface. The second element which rests upon the first is a circular thin transparent pliable plastic sheet. Its under surface is etched so that it appears white. Slight pressure causes the etched surface to adhere to the tacky surface below it and, wherever adhesion occurs, the white color of the etched surface changes to a dark mark. Thus, a ball rolled across the device leaves a dark trace. When the second element is pulled away from the first the mark or trace disappears and a white sursecond and third element may be cemented together if desired.

The plate 9 is surrounded by a circular thin metal gutter 2'! whose inner edge bends in and extends a short way (say, /2") over the outer edge of the plate. The outer edge of the tracing device is cemented to the bottom of the inner edge of the gutter. The gutter serves three purposes. It catches the released balls, it prevents wrinkles in the tracing device, and it lifts so that traces can be removed easily. equally spaced bolts or pins (not shown) may be advantageously fitted into vertical slots in the inner side of the gutter and fastened to holes in the outer edge of the plate. They serve to guide the gutter in a straight line as it is lifted and prevent lifting the gutter so high as to tear the tracing device.

The second major functional assembly is a ball-holding and ball-release assembly and consists of all moving parts on shaft it) not described in the plate assembly. It comprises ball rotational drive means associated with crossarms 49, ball rolling means associated with cross-arms 53 (the cross-arms 49 and 53 bein at right angles to each other), and ball release means associated with cross-arms 59 which are located over the other cross-arms and parallel to one pair thereof (preferably parallel to the cross-arms 49). The ball rotational drive means ermits balls to be given a revolving motion in either direction at varying speeds relative to the disc 9 and out of contact therewith and dropped thereupon. The ball rolling means permits the balls to roll in contact with the moving disc 9.

The ball release means frees the balls at the time shaft to permit free and even rotation. De- F Four sirably a thin metal dust guard 30 for the lower bearing 29 is fastened to the upper edge of the lower bearing housing 28. A release assembly lock 3| which consists of a bracket bolted to base 2 and a thumbscrew with a tapered end which passes through the bracket and is locked to it by a Wing nut is provided. In use the tapered end of the thumbscrew is seated in a tapered hole in shaft 10, thus locking the release assembly rigidly.

The ball rotational drive assembly, some of the detail of which is shown in Fig. 4, comprises all the parts from and including gears 32 to and including ball clutch pieces 43. It is driven by the bevelled ring gear 12 which turns the bevelled gears 32 mounted on hollow shafts 33. Also mounted on the hollow shafts 33 are ordinary gears 34. The hollow shafts are, in turn, mounted upon a small (about A) shaft 38 and are held thereon by set screw collars 35. The shaft 36 passes through the main shaft l0 and is held in place by a tapered pin driven through both shafts. Shaft I0 is flattened on both sides where shaft 36 passes through it, so that the inner ends of hollow shafts 33 have a flat surface to turn against. The ordinary gears 34 are placed far enough away from the bevelled gears 32 so that when the collars 35 are loosened the hollow shafts 33 may be moved outward far enough so that the bevelled gears 32 no longer engage the bevelled ring gear l2. In thi position the balls 44 are given no rotational motion about their horizontal axis. Not shown in the drawings are means to prevent the collars 35 from slipping off of the shaft 36 (e. g., screw heads) During operation centrifugal force keeps the hollow shafts 33 from returning to such a position that the gears 32 may re-engage the bevelled ring gear 12.

Another parallel shaft 31 (more clearly shown in Fig. 4) is mounted above shaft 36 in a manner similar to the mounting of shaft 36 and at a height so that the ordinary gears 39, which are mounted on the hollow shaft 38, properly engage the gears 34-. The hollow shafts 38 are held in place by the retaining screws 42. The clutchholding pieces 40 are free to move backward and forward on the hollow shafts 38 but are forced to turn with these same shafts by means of a slide joint. Figs. 2 and 4 show the essential details of this slide joint. The clutch-holding pieces 49 are prevented from sliding off the hollow shafts 39 during disassembly for adjustments, etc., by the small guide screws 4| which pass through slots in the sides of the rotating pieces 40. Two fiber clutch pieces 43 attached to the holding pieces 49 have their outer ends conically tapered to fit snugly into holes with the same conical taper which are drilled into the balls 44. A good clutching surface is thus provided to cause the balls to rotate when the fiber clutch pieces 43 rotate. Each ball is provided with a second hole of the same taper at the opposite side. This second hole provides a place for a point hearing so that the balls may be caused to rotate about a horizontal major axis during operation. The ratio of the gear teeth of the bevelled ring gear l2 and the gear teeth of the ball rotational drive assembly is such that, when the plate assembly is locked in place and the release assembly given one complete revolution about the center of rotation of the shaft ill with the ball rotational drive assembly in operating position, any point on the major circumference of rotation of the balls will travel a distance which is linearly equal to that attracts distance travelled by the center or the balls-fin completing one revolution about the" shaft l4. Thus, if the balls are centered 3 from the can; ter of rotation of shaft i8; and are l /g 'f in di-' ameter, the gear ratio is such that the balls make two complete rotations aboht their major axes of rotation during each complete revolu= tion about the center or rotation otshaft It, The gears 34' and -39 can be replaced by a series of gears of difiering ratios, if desired, so that the speed of axial rotation with respect to the speed of revolution of the balls may be varied. However, since the balls tend to follow tange'n tial paths on release, much of the effect of using gears of different ratios may be realised by revolvin-g the plate assembly and release assembly at different ratios. Use of the inclined track itssembly 8 adds to this use of the device.

Ball rolling means consists of the cross-arm member 53 which is provided with two sets of large holes opposite to one another. These holes are fitted with ball bearings as shown in Fig. 5, where '55 represents two of the ball bearings, 51 represents the ball bearingretainer ring, and 58 a thin metalring which holds the retainer ring in place. When the balls are in place under these holes in cross-arm 53, rotation of either the plate or the release assembly causes the balls 44 to roll over the tracing device '26 and trace a circle thereon. Under these conditions the balls are said to be rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of revolution of the plate assem bly relative to the direction of revolution of the release assembly.

In the ball release means which is associated with erossarm 59, links 45 have prongs on the lower end and are so I constructed that upon release they can move from the position shown in Fig. 2 only to such a position thatthe lower prongs, which fitover the outer rirn or the clutch holding pieces 40, are absolutely vertical. Furtheir motion of link 45 prevented by a; shoulder cut into cross-arm 49 for that purpose. It is quickly snapped to this position u'p'on release; by the spring 48'. In operating position the inner rim of clutch holding piece 40 turnsagainstthe projections at the center of the inner prongs of link 45. At full release the bottoms of the prongs of link 45 should be at the height of the rotationa1 axis or hollow stanza. I

Release assembly link 46 has a prong directed downwards from its lower end provided with a set screw 50 locked pia'eeby nut i. The end of set screw 50 is provided with a hardened conical tip which fits" into the outer conical hole in the ball 44. since the taper the hardoiled up or the set screw is slightl steeper than the taper of the hole in 44 into which it fits, a point bearing is provided for the rotation or the balls.

sleeve 52 passes up through a hole at the center of icross arm 49 and cross-arms 49 and 53 are bolted iiht=:i"et so that cros's arms 49 and 53 are at right angles. The-s three members form unit which ma m ve upward the influence of tension springs 54 released. Upward movement is guided in a straight line by vertical grooves out i to th uppif part or the inner suriace or sleeve 52 which slide over guide screws 55 set in the central shaft it. On release, the action of thel'azytongs device of whic um; 46 is also a part, raises the prong of link 46 above a poi'nt of possible interference with the balls rolling on the graphic tracing deuse 26.

Release cross-arm 59" is held in position on shaft I0 by means of the tapered pin 50. In ad: d-iti'on to providing an upper pivot for the lazy tong release devices, the oross ariii 59' also pro= vides a pivot for the release assembly members 61 by means "of the pivot bolts 62 which are locked in place by nuts 63. The release mem bers 6| are equipped with rollers 64 at both upper arid lower ends. The upper part or reie'ase members 6'! is somewhat heavier than the lower art so that centrifugal force keeps their: in the operating position shown iii his, 1.

Details of the actual trigger release means are as follows. The handle 65 is pivoted to the fr me and also to the sides of the circular bearing re taming member 66 which does not rotate and which is separated from the rotating sleeve 51 by a ball bearing. Sleeve 61 turns with shaft Hi. It is held in the position shown in the drawings by the compression spring 69. Sleeve 61 moves up and down on shaft 10 and is guided in this movement by the guide screw 68 which projects from each side of shaft 19 into slots out into the upper partof sleeve 61. When the handle 65 is pressed downward, member 65' is forced down, the pressure being transferred through the bear ing to sleeve 61 which moves downward. its inner conical surface contacts the upper rollers 64 forcing the upper ends of release assembly members 6| inward while the lower ends mo've outward until the lower. rollers 64 pass the upper edge of sleeve 52. The united members '49, 52 and 53 are thensnapped upward by the action of the tension springs 54. This upward motion is stopped by a rubber washer (not shown) around shaft 10 and just below crossarm 59. Release of the balls- 44 fromany of the holdersis thus effected. v V

The motive power assembly which is mounted on rod fi ponsists of an electric motor (e. 'g;.-, ,a H. P. 1800 R. P. motor, either A. C. or D. 0.); The enclof the motor shaft is fitted with a worm which engages a 30-tooth gear on a vertical shait; The shaft thus rotates at l R. P. S. and is f tted, at its lower end, with two pulley blocks. Any desired ratio of pulleys may be used on these two blocks as wellas on the pulley blocks driving the plate and release assemblies; HoweYQ F Fh blocks used here are all exactly the same sige with pulley ratios of 1, 2, 3' and 4', The upper blocker the motivepo wer assembly drives the plate mechanism and the lower one drives release mechanism. Coil spring belts are used as many different drive combinations in the some or reverse directions can be used without ting the pulley blocks. The only disadvantage or such belts, is more than overbalanced by the advantages, is the whip developed due to starting inertia so that the device must beallowed to run for about 15 secends in order that equilibrium may be reached before release of the balls is effected. As the pulley blocks on the drive shaft turn at 1 R. P. and asall the pulley block-s have pulleys in a 1,- 2, 3, 4 ratio, by use of the proper pulleys,feither the release assembly or the plate assembly or both can be caused to revolve at from 3 R. P. S. to 4 R. P. S. When both assemblies are revolvingin opposite directions, their relative speeds maybe varied from R. P. S. to B R; P. S.

When the balls are held in the inner holders of ball rolling member 53,; which is revolving while the plate assembly is looked; they trace a circle and on release two tangent traces are Obtained giving a perreet graphic illustration of tangential motion. This typical type of trace is shown in Fig. '7. The same thing is illustrated under the same conditions when theouter holders of ball-rolling member 53 are used. However, the balls are nearer the edge of the plate so that the tangent traces are shorter. When the balls are held in these same two outer holders of ball-rolling member 53, the release assembly locked and the plate assembly revolved, on release they first trace paths which curve inward toward the center before they begin to move outward, thus graphically illustrating the effect of rotational inertia of the balls.

These latter examples illustrate the path followed on the plate when the balls 44 have no forward velocity but have a rotation opposite to that of the plate.

When the balls are held in either of the two opposite sets of holders of member 53 or in the mechanism associated with cross-arm 49 (that is, between the prongs of links 45 and 46), release assembly and plate assembly locked together by the locks 20 and the two assemblies then rotated together as a unit, the balls, upon release, trace a path on the tracing device 26 which appears to start outward along a line drawn through the centers of the balls bisecting the plate and then curves either right or left depending upon the direction of the plate and release assembly rotation.

When the balls are held in the release assembly members associated with cross-arm 49, with the ball rotational drive mechanism either engaged or not engaged, the plate assembly locked and the release assembly rotated, the balls trace tangential paths, upon release, but since the balls do not touch the plate assembly until release, these tangents are less striking than those described above with the use of member 53 since no circle is here traced. When the balls are held in the release assembly associated with crossarm 49 with the ball rotational drive mechanism not engaged, the release assembly locked and the plate assembly rotated, the balls, upon release, trace modified Archimedes spirals. This typical trace is shown in Fig. 8.

With these examples in mind, it can be readily seen that many variations may be accomplished when using the release members '45 and 45 with the ball rotational drive assembly either engaged or not engaged by rotation of the plate assembly and release assembly in the same or opposite directions at different speeds. By rolling the balls down the track of the minor functional assembly 8 while the plate rotates in either direction, further variations are obtained in the path followed on the plate.

Calculation of the mathematical formulae for the traces obtained presents interesting problems for students of mathematics, physics, and mechanics. An especially interesting case is the formula for the modified (Archimedes) spiral obtained upon release when the balls are held in the members 45 and 46, the release assembly locked, the plate assembly rotated, and the drive mechanism disengaged.

Types of drive and release mechanisms other than those described may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention. Thus, magnetic, electric, and electronic release mechanisms could be used. The motor and wormgear reduction unit may be omitted and in its place a slow speed high torque motor or a fly wheel type crank substituted, the shaft of either of which would then turn the two driving pulley blocks. A gear shift mechanism for obtaining differing speeds of plate assembly and release assembly has already been rejected in favor of the more mechanically simple pulley block drive.

Simpler machines embodying one or more of the features herein presented may be used without departing from the spirit of this invention. Fig. 6 shows one such simpler device which has been constructed, wherein the numerals designate corresponding parts. Wherever the parts are modified, the numbers are primed. Plate assembly lock [3 has a tapered end l5 which fits into slots I6 in the edge of plate 9. In this modification, there is no plate assembly-release assembly lock 20. In its place two set screws (not shown) are set into opposite sides of the plate assembly sleeve ll. When these are screwed in, the two assemblies are locked together. The release assembly lock 3| is placed at the top of this modification. The links 45 are hollowed at the lower ends. The balls fit into the hollows and are held firmly in place. The links 46 are supplied with three set screws to hold the balls in place. Links 41 do not have slots in them. A compression spring 54 replaces the tension springs 54 of Fig. 2.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for demonstrating tangential and rotational motion comprising, in combination, an upright supporting frame, a base, a driven vertical shaft extending from the top of the frame to the base, a horizontal fiat disc on said shaft, graphic recording means sensitive to the pressure of a freely rolling ball and placed on top of said disc, horizontal ball-holding arms positioned above said disc, balls revolvably retained by said arms, and trigger means for releasing said balls during differential motion of disc and arms, whereby a graphic path of said balls when released is traced on said graphic recording means.

2. Apparatus for demonstrating tangential and rotational motion comprising, in combination, an upright supporting frame, a base, a driven vertical shaft extending from the top of the frame to the base, a driven horizontal fiat disc freely rotatable on said shaft, graphic recording means sensitive to the pressure of a freely rolling ball and placed on top of said disc, horizontal ballholding arms adjustably positioned above the disc and rotatable with said shaft, balls revolvably retained by said arms, and trigger means for releasing said balls during differential rotation of arms and disc.

3. Apparatus for demonstrating tangential and rotational motion comprising, in combination, an upright supporting frame, a base, a driven vertical shaft extending from the top of the frame to the base, a fixed horizontal fiat disc on said shaft, graphic recording means sensitive to the pressure of a freely rolling ball and placed on top of said disc, horizontal ball-holding arms positioned above the disc and rotatable with said shaft, balls retained near the outer ends of said arms and in contact with the disc surface, and trigger means for releasing said balls during the rotation of said arms, whereby a graphic path of said balls when released is traced.

4. Apparatus for demonstrating tangential and rotational motion comprising, in combination, an upright supporting frame, a base, a vertical shaft extending from the top of the frame to the base, a driven horizontal fiat disc on said shaft, graphic recording means sensitive to the pressure of a freely rolling ball and placed on top of said disc, fixed horizontal ball-holding arms positioned above said disc, balls retained by said arms, and trigger means for releasing said balls upon the pressure-sensitive graphic recording means during motion of disc.

5. Apparatus for demonstrating tangential and rotational motion comprising, in combination, an upright supporting frame, a base, a driven vertical shaft extending from the top of the frame to the base, a driven horizontal flat disc on said shaft, graphic recording means sensitive to the pressure of a freely rolling ball and placed on top of said disc, balls retained above said disc, and means for releasing said balls during motion of said disc, whereby a graphic path of said balls when released is traced. s

FRANKLIN B. WELLS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

